The burden of islamic terrorism on development and peace in West and Central Africa; a case study of Mali, Nigeria and Sudan (Omo Yoruba Ronu o)

The recent militants coordinated attack that led to capture of Governor's office in Kidal and other communities in Mali over the weekend by jihadists affiliated to Al-Qaeda and ISIS have dislodged military formation, also leading to the death of a defense minister of the Junta led government of Mali.

The Tuareg Liberation force and JNIM Islamists fighters over the years have waged religious and power grabbing motivated attack on communities in the northern and central Mali, the junta overthrown the democratic elected leaders of the country citing corruption, mismanagement and growing influence of terrorism in some part of the country as a reason for their actions.

This act further led to the country quitting the regional organization which infuriated some power brokers within Economic Community of West Africa countries (ECOWAS) led to threat of military invasion to restore democracy in the country and bringing it back into the fold before the emergence of Alliance of Sahel States made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger republic.

The operation of terrorists groups in the Sahel have increased in the last three years despite the military leadership, making the Sahel States a breeding ground of terrorists operating in the lake Chad basin.

The porous border of northern nigeria have made it easier for terrorist network in West Africa to wreck havoc and attack government infrastructures, forward operating military bases in North East, communities in Northwest, villages in North Central with fear and panic spreading across other geo political zones that made up Nigeria.

The ethnic cleansing and killing spree in Sudan by Arabs, Tuaregs and Fulanis in the 21st century have led to global outcry and condemnation, with security experts pointing to United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the sponsor of killings of black Sudanese who are the original owners of the land, with arab related tribes from Libya, Tunisia e. t. c occupying those deserted communities and renaming them.

This same pattern of attack occurred in the Middlebelt Nigeria, whereby indigenous communities of Benue state and villages in Plateau State attacked by Fulani militias and armed foreign Fulanis (French speaking), followed by Fulani related tribes occupying those villages and renaming them.

This violence, killing spree, kidnappings for ransom and destruction of existing order have something in common, which is islam. Although many Muslims will tell you that their religion is a religion of peace but the actions of believers across different countries in Africa have left peaceful coexisting communities in pieces.

By: Hon. Prince Samuel Adesegun Egunjobi MBA, B. Sc., National Diploma.